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Snapshot - The undertaker

We asked Fritz Roth to answer a set of questions about his favorite food, pastimes and routines.

https://p.dw.com/p/MN2w
Fritz Roth
Image: Roth

Name: Friedrich Hubert Roth, my friends call me Fritz

Age: 60

Place of Birth: Eikamp near Bergisch Gladbach

Family Status: Married

Children: One son, one daughter

Job: Undertaker

Education: High school diploma, Catholic seminary, business degree

How do I start the day?
My day starts very early. The alarm usually goes off between 5 and 5.30am. I put the TV on and while I get ready I watch breakfast TV. It's the only chance I get to watch TV. Then I drink some coffee with my wife and we read the two main local papers and swap when we're done. Then I go the office.

What's typically German?
Rules and regulations. There's a law for everything. And what's worse: Everyone abides by them!

Do I have any typical character traits?
I'm excited by new ideas and life in general

My biggest strength is: I have a very positive and optimistic disposition. Rather than seeing problems, I tend to dive in and see how things work out!

My biggest weakness is: That I can't say no. So I'm often late

What do I do in my spare time? Go to dinner with people I like

My favorite food:
I'm passionate about sushi. But even more than Japanese food I like a good old English steak with sauce Béarnaise or pepper sauce. Heaven! My favorite German dish is a clear soup with dumplings followed by ice cream.

What music do I listen to?
 I listen to a lot of music while I work. I have about 1500 CDs in my office, ranging from jazz to classical and pop. I love Beatles and the Mamas and Papas. I know all the seventies hits off by heart! When it comes to German music I like Reinhard May and Stephan Sulke. I also love world music. Whenever I travel, I always bring music back with me. I find Stockhausen a bit difficult. We buried him.

What would I like more time for?
For art and to develop music projects for people who have been paralyzed by grief.

How do I feel about the future?
I think of all there is still to be discovered. I think of mankind's ability to develop new things in each age. Hopefully there will be discoveries that will lead to positive developments in society. But there's always the danger that there are false leaders out there who have the opposite in mind.

My philosophy is…
n the Rhine region we say the main thing is that your heart is true. We should all learn the language of the heart - it will help us understand the world. With your heart you can find a solution every problem.

Author: Jose Ospina-Valencia (jp)
Editor: Rina Goldenberg